United States President Donald Trump has agreed to extend trade talks with the European Union until July 9, following a warning last week that he might raise tariffs on EU goods to 50%.
The decision came after a phone call between Trump and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Sunday.
“I had a good call with President Trump,” Von der Leyen said. “We both agreed to keep talking and aim for a deal that works for both sides. We need until 9 July to make sure it’s a good deal.”
Trump had earlier said he was frustrated with the slow progress of talks. Speaking at the White House on Friday, he said: “We’re going to increase tariffs on all EU goods to 50% by 1 June if things don’t move faster.”
However, after the phone call, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying, “It was my privilege to extend the deadline. Von der Leyen said we will rapidly get together and see if we can work something out.”
Last month, Trump had already placed a 20% tariff on most EU goods, but later reduced it to 10% to allow time for further talks.
The EU’s Trade Chief, Maroš Šefčovič, also confirmed the bloc’s commitment to reaching an agreement. After talks with US officials, he said: “The EU is fully engaged and committed to securing a deal that works for both.”
“EU-US trade is unmatched and must be guided by mutual respect, not threats,” Šefčovič added. “We stand ready to defend our interests.”
European leaders have also spoken out against rising tensions. France and Germany called for a diplomatic solution, warning that a trade war would hurt both sides.
The EU had earlier threatened to place 25% tariffs on €18 billion ($20 billion) worth of US goods but paused the move to allow talks to continue. The bloc is also considering further measures on €95 billion worth of US imports.
Trump has often said the current trade relationship with the EU is unfair. According to US government figures, the EU exported more than $600 billion worth of goods to the US last year, while importing only $370 billion in return.
He has focused on European car and agricultural exports, and a 25% tariff on EU steel and aluminium remains in place.
As both sides prepare for more discussions, the world is watching closely, with experts warning that rising tariffs could harm the global economy.
